The Buckeye Guesthouse is part of an 18th-century stone farmhouse on the southern edge of a small hamlet in the South of France. A peaceful retreat amidst green fields in the foothills of the Cévennes Mountains National Park, it is swaddled in a sustainable garden on an acre of land. Step into a simple and vibrant way of life that is connected to the earth and has a sense of history and tradition. Pause and take in the beauty of the carefully crafted elements and views. The house is renovated and light-filled, both rustic and elegant, preserving the character of the old stone farmhouse.

Ideal for one or two persons, it is a fully-equipped and furnished 650 s.f. abode on 3 levels:
- 1-bedroom (queen-size)
- 1 ½ bathroom (generous shower but no tub)
- Living area with twin-size daybed
- Full kitchen with dining table
- “Summer kitchen” (or kitchenette) between the front patio and the private courtyard.
- Courtyard with dining table, umbrella, barbecue
- Laundry room
- Dedicated work or office space with fiber internet wifi connection
- Linens provided, but laundry and housekeeping during your stay are not provided

The courtyard leads to an artful, sustainable strolling garden on an acre of land where you can swing in the shade of a majestic oak. Beyond your unfettered leisure on the property, the Cévennes National Park is a little-known nature preserve with fascinating architecture, flora, and geology, a dream for hikers and bicyclists.
The hamlet is very peaceful, cradled in the hills and surrounded by fields where you will see Camarguaise horses (the white breed from the Rhone River Delta). You can start hiking directly from the front door, as the house is on one of the French “PR” hiking trails.
On my website you can read about the Cévennes Mountains and see many more photos of the house and the area.

The house is 8 minutes by car from the charming village of Lasalle, where there are many cultural events, in the summer especially. There are also many stores and services including:
- 3 bakeries
- a small grocery store
- a lovely market in the place on Mondays
- a medical clinic and pharmacy

It takes 20 minutes by car to go to Anduze or St. Jean du Gard, and 25 minutes to St. Hippolyte du Fort. These are small tourist towns with more shopping and public transportation access. They also have bike rentals. The lending library in the guesthouse has trail maps and road maps, tour guides, history books, and fiction (mixed English and French).

You will need a car to arrive here and to get around in the area. The nearest airports and TGV train stations are in Montpellier and Nimes, each 1 ½ hours by car. The Marseille Provence airport is a bigger hub, 2 hours 15 minutes by car.

Your on-site parking place is directly in front of the house.
The house is served by fiber internet wi-fi. There is no television.
The laundry room (a.k.a. summer kitchen) is shared with me.

The guesthouse is part of a very old farmhouse, so it has irregular surfaces and unconventional clearances - see detailed descriptions below.
The guesthouse entry door, living room and bedroom are on the second floor; the kitchen, dining table, and bathroom are on the third floor, with a loft in between. There is a small passage from the loft to the kitchen where the ceiling height is only 5’-9”.
The exterior spaces including the stone entry stair have good lighting. The stair is authentic to its original era – therefore it has irregular stone steps. It does not have a handrail.
The entry door to the guesthouse is only 5’-6” height – many adults have to duck.
The interior wood stair has a good handrail, but it is very steep.
The wall that is between the cottage and the host’s house is a stone wall 30” thick.

My landscape is designed as a sustainable garden, and at the same time a romantic strolling garden. It has well-adapted species, many of which I grew from wild-collected seeds. There are also plants from other places in the world (notably from Mexico and Texas) that are well-adapted to this area.
There is a biodynamic farm next door where you can buy local, wholesome vegetables and other products.

About This Lister

I am an artist-artisan who has made the Cévennes my home and studio since 2018. I am American-French, and I speak and write fluently in French and English. I love hiking, and I am passionate about native plants and Cévenole architecture. I would be happy to give you ideas for hikes or car tours or bike tours around here.
I have this special little house that I am renting for stays from 2 weeks to 2 months, with the possibility of finding a person who might be looking for a longer stay. I am seeking someone who loves to feel a connection to the land, who would appreciate the amazing natural and cultural environment of the Cévennes Mountains.
This rural place allows for a secluded way of life, or a remote place to work, but also invites participation with many cultural offerings: music, both classical and folk – workshops, festivals and concerts in villages, in Romanesque churches; a national park with many opportunities to explore history and nature; museums and art galleries; plenty of yoga and meditation offerings in all the villages; vibrant weekly markets in most towns in the area; even an international documentary film festival in nearby Lasalle.
My garden nourishes soul and body. I have many herbs and vegetables integrated in the landscape. Grapevines, fruit trees, strawberries, raspberries…